AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2022

Reilly Opelka

Press Conference

R. OPELKA/K. Anderson

6-3, 6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: You come up against a Grand Slam finalist, so what's it like as a first round to get through that match in straight sets?

REILLY OPELKA: Yeah, it was a tough first round, you know. It could have been -- I don't think he played his best but I had a lot to do with it. I made a lot of returns, I served better than him. Any time you're playing a server such as him, they get uncomfortable when the other guys are the better server, right?

Isner has had a great record against other guys like me or Ivo or Kevin just because no matter who Isner is on the court with he's going to be the best server. Today I think I was the better server and pressure added up and saw some uncharacteristic misses on his serve that were because of my serve, if that makes sense.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You looked in great condition tonight. Congratulations out there. I take it from what you just said in the first answer you really enjoy playing fellow big servers. Is that something where you feel like you can dominate the match?

REILLY OPELKA: Yeah, you know what you're going to get when you play a big server. I played a big server the first week of the year. I played great. I think I was the better player of that match, won more points. You know it's not going to always fall your way and that's just the reality of it. You've got to be okay with that.

So I think playing a big server you know what you're going to get. I think there's that aspect of it, which is quite nice. Then the downside is, like I just mentioned, you could be the better player and maybe not win the match.

Q. Fair enough. Your next opponent, German, Dominik Koepfer, you have a tough record against him at tour level but more recent matches the head to head was in your favor.

REILLY OPELKA: Yeah.

Q. How do you feel ahead of that matchup, and do you feel like you're progressing to a point where you might be able to turn it back on your fortunes?

REILLY OPELKA: I'd like to think so, but I have lost the last eight sets to him now consecutively; US Open, Wimbledon, as well, and Madrid. I think he returns very well. He serves a lot into my body with his lefty slider serve. So he's got my number. He knows what I'm going to do, I kind of know what he's going to do type of thing. I expect a lot of serves that come into my body, into my right hip, to be exact.

You know, he's a tough match for me, obviously. Returns very well.

Q. Today we saw Sebi Korda had a huge result. That was really impressive. Last I checked Tommy Paul is doing well on court.

REILLY OPELKA: He won.

Q. Are you bullish about the state of American tennis, men's tennis? We saw Maxime Cressy had a good result to start the year. Paul had a good result at the end of last year. Fritz is starting well too.

REILLY OPELKA: Yeah, yeah. I don't think the best American is even here right now.

Q. Jenson?

REILLY OPELKA: Yeah, Brooksby. That's the guy I back. Nakashima is great. He had a tough draw, but tough draw for Berrettini, too. Nakashima is a hell of a player.

And Korda, obviously we know what Korda's capable of. Tommy has really come into his own. I think Tommy's playing the best tennis of his life now. He's only going to get better. Same with Fritz. Fritz has really got a good understanding for his game.

Yeah, I'm very excited for all of us.